Chapter 11
No sooner had Yuna left than Marguerite got a call for an interview from the design department of Luxe Scents International. She could hardly believe her ears. She’d sent out a ton of resumes and LuxeScents, being a globally renowned perfume company, was the one she had the least hope for. But to her surprise, it turned out to be the only one that got back to her and invited her for an interview.
Marguerite figured as long as she could get a foot in the door at Luxe Scents, she could take her grandma and get the heck out of chaotic Stonebridge City for good once her grandma gets better. She had no idea that she was in for a world of challenges.
Half an hour later.
Marguerite, all giddy and jittery, rushed to the headquarters of LuxeScents International. She was escorted by a secretary straight to the top floor of the building. As the secretary pushed open the glass door, Marguerite was gobsmacked. She was just a simple country girl who’d never seen such grandeur.
The office was bathed in light, surrounded by floor–to–ceiling windows on three sides. The lush greenery and flowers made her feel like she’d stepped into a fairyland What made her more anxious was the gathering of people in the reception area with her perfume sample displayed in the center of the table.
Were all these folks here to interview her?
She spotted a tall man standing with his back to the crowd by the window. He stood out like a sore thumb among the crowd, emanating an aura of power, like a natural–born ruler. Something about this man seemed oddly familiar to her.
As the secretary handed the man Marguerite’s personal details she’d filled out earlier, he respectfully said, “Mr. Winston, the designer of Polar Radiance perfùme is here.”
The man gave a slight nod, glanced at the document, then abruptly turned around.
Marguerite was taken aback by his piercing gaze, just as flabbergasted as Frederick at that moment!
His skin was delicate, features handsome. He looked dashing in his navy blue suit, tailored to perfection. The mole by his eye added an air of mystery. His good looks were jaw–dropping.
Marguerite was too stunned to react. Frederick! What was he doing here? The boss of LuxeScents International was him!
“It’s you?!” Marguerite asked in a low voice, staring at the man before her.
Frederick emanated a coldness as he sternly said, “I should be the one asking you that. Marguerite, you’ve got guts! Trying to stick around me using such despicable means!”
He had been wondering how she could leave the mansion so easily that morning. So, this was her game! How infuriating!
The perfume makers assisting with the interview exchanged glances. They were surprised enough that this plain–looking woman in simple clothes could design the Polar Radiance perfume. Even more surprising was that she apparently knew their CEO!
And judging by their conversation, they seemed to have some kind of past.
Marguerite knew Frederick harbored deep animosity toward her. No matter how much she tried to explain, he would stubbornly believe she was after something. So, she decided to adopt the stance of a job applicant and firmly denied his accusations. “Mr. Winston, I’m a competition participant. I anonymously submitted my perfume design to your company half a month ago. I didn’t know you then, nor did I know you work at LuxeScents International.”
Frederick’s gaze was icy. He strode over to Marguerite, “So you’re saying this is all a coincidence?”
Marguerite stood her ground, “Yes, it’s a coincidence.”
He tossed her documents onto the table, crossed his arms over his chest, and said nonchalantly, “Once or twice can be a coincidence, but three or four times? That’s plotting!”
“Mr. Winston, if your company hadn’t called me today, I don’t think we would’ve crossed paths so soon.”
Marguerite didn’t want to argue with him. After glancing at the perfume sample on the table, she continued, “Even if I did have a plot, it wouldn’t be against you. I’m vying for a position as a perfumer at LuxeScents International. Your company reached out to me today because they see potential in my perfume to bring in revenue. So, Mr. Winston, I’m here today because I was invited. It has nothing to do with you.”
Everyone around sucked in a breath.
This woman actually dared to talk back to Mr. Winston!
